bingung

Bingung is an Indonesian word meaning being confused or perplexed. It functions mainly as an adjective to describe a mental state and is widely used in everyday speech. In sentences, it expresses uncertainty about what to do, what something means, or which option to choose. Examples include Saya bingung and Dia bingung antara dua pilihan. The term can also appear in nominal form kebingungan (confusion) and in verb form membingungkan (to confuse or perplex someone). In informal contexts, intensified forms such as sangat bingung, amat bingung, or bingung banget are common, especially in social media and casual conversation. While it is most associated with Indonesian, the word also appears in Malay with a similar meaning, contributing to cross-dialect usage in the region.

In formal writing, speakers may prefer kebingungan or membingungkan to convey a more formal sense of confusion. The word is typically used to describe internal states rather than external causes, though context can indicate what is causing the confusion. It appears across media, education, and everyday discourse as a concise way to express uncertainty.

Etymology is not well documented in brief sources; bingung is considered an indigenous Indonesian term with continued usage in contemporary language.